It’s official, winter is here, the leaves have fallen and so has the snow, plenty of it! Here’s a short list of some maintenance to consider as you ready your home for the winter. As always, be safe, if you’re not certain about doing it call a professional.
Maintenance Checklist
- Change out your HVAC filter. Do this at least at the start of every new season. Depending on the filter manufacturer’s recommendation, perhaps more often. A dirty filter can cause your furnace to be deprived of air flow and work harder to heat less.
- Replace the batteries in carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and check to make sure these are all in working order.
- Drain your exterior hose and faucet. Water left in those lines can freeze causing the pipes to burst.
- Check your gutters and downspouts. Did you finish removing all those leaves? A clogged gutter or down spout can cause ice dams in the winter which can damage your roof.
- Check your weather stripping. Make sure your doors and windows seal properly and that the weather stripping is in good repair. These small air leaks can add up quick and cost more to run your heating system.
- Stock up on rock salt and make sure you still have that snow shovel from last year.
- Store your gas powered lawn equipment. First, always follow the manufactures recommendation, but in general you’ll want to sore them in a dry location with less than 1/2 tank of gas. You may also want to lubricate the moving parts to keep them from forming rust during the winter.
Other items to consider
- Check your roof after a snow. If there are areas where the snow has melted, this could be a sign of heat loss along with the loss of your heating dollars.
- Check your windows for condensation. Condensation forming on the inside of your windows could mean that the window have lost their seal and leaking cold air.
- Always make certain your plug your outdoor lights and decorations into a GFI protected outlet. Do not use any extension cords not rated for exterior use.